So, I’m pretty sure this is a good book that I’m writing. I mean, I don’t know for sure that it’s publishable, especially in the current condition, but I know it’s at least almost there.
And it’s getting better.
I’m now in Chapter 3 of the revision pass. Last night, I saw that I ended one scene with the character leaping onto a vehicle and heading off to pick someone up, and then in the next scene, I begin when he gets there. In reading these scenes, I realized that there’s a problem, and it’s kind of a big one: The character makes a life-changing decision in the space between scenes.
Well, that’s clearly not going to work. So I started writing what Jim Butcher calls a “sequel,” that is, a quiet scene in which the character reacts emotionally to the previous scene, works through his possible options, and makes choices. They also allow (and even encourage) the reader to connect emotionally to the character.
In the process, I added several hundred words. And I’m not even finished, yet.
It’s this ability to easily insert the scene that is why I love Scrivener so much. Sure, I could do the same thing in Word or some other word processing software, but the way that Scrivener makes it easy is really something, and it doesn’t require me to reformat anything, move any text, or anything other than insert the scene where I want it and write.
The most important thing about this, though, has nothing to do with the tool I’m using. It’s that even recognizing the lack means that I’m getting better as a writer.
And that’s precious. That’s what I got from Viable Paradise, and it’s why I’ll keep telling people to apply until the day VP stops happening (may that day never come!).